At Wine Paris, I had the opportunity to meet Paul Pujol, the winemaker behind Prophet’s Rock, a leading winery in Central Otago, New Zealand. With a background that includes three years at Kuentz Bas in Alsace, Paul has propelled Prophet’s Rock into the upper echelons of the region’s wineries. The focus here is not just on Pinot Noir, though it shines, but also on compelling varieties such as Riesling and Pinot Gris.
During the tasting of the latest releases, several exceptional wines stood out:
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Prophet’s Rock Retrospect White 2024: A blend from four Alsace grape varieties, this wine is juicy, lively, and shows remarkable complexity with a minerally backbone. I rated it 95/100.
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Prophet’s Rock Dry Riesling 2023: Coming from schist soils, this single-parcel wine offers bright expression with textured citrus fruit and a mineral streak, earning a score of 94/100.
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Prophet’s Rock Dry Riesling 2016: This vintage is vivid and stylish, continuing to impress with appealing citrus notes and mineral character, also rated at 94/100.
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Prophet’s Rock Pinot Gris 2024: This wine is complex and dry but displays some richness, resulting in a layered texture and savory finish, receiving a 93/100.
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Prophet’s Rock Pinot Gris 2010: This gem is stony and mineral-laden with notes of apple and depth. It ages beautifully, garnering a score of 93/100.
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Prophet’s Rock Antipodes Blanc 2022: In collaboration with François Millet from Comte de Vogüe, this Chardonnay showcases complexity, freshness, and citrus fruit, rated at 95/100.
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Prophet’s Rock Pinot Noir Sophora 2023: Exhibiting juicy and mineral characteristics along with bright acidity, this multidimensional wine earned a 94/100.
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Prophet’s Rock Pinot Noir Olearia 2023: Known for its elegance and structure, this concentrated wine shines with cherry and berry fruits, rated 95/100.
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Prophet’s Rock Pinot Noir Home Vineyard 2023: Juicy and textural, it combines ripe cherry flavors with a saline edge, achieving a score of 95/100.
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Prophet’s Rock Antipodes 2022: This original collaboration Pinot Noir demonstrates fine texture and precision, rated at 95/100.
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Prophet’s Rock Retrospect 2019: This developing wine is grippy with layers of flavor, showcasing a stony edge and crewed to 95/100.
For more information on the winery, visit Prophet’s Rock.